Second shows revive Mollywood’s fortunes

A gradual return to good times is round the corner, say theatre owners

The decision to permit second shows seems to have revived the fortunes of Malayalam film industry that was hit hard by the pandemic crisis. A gradual return to the good times is round the corner going by the feedback from theatre owners and the producers. “The release of Mammootty’s The Priest, which was the first movie that reached the screens after the authorities reinstated second shows, was the turning point. The family audience has come back to the theatres after long,” said M.C. Bobby, former general secretary of the Film Exhibitors' United Organisation of Kerala. The government had permitted only three shows after the cinemas were permitted to resume operations following the pandemic relaxations. However, the collections failed to touch expected figures as the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce pointed out that the footfalls will not go up without the permission to screen second shows.